Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1887-08-12
OLD FORT WASHINGTON.
Charms of the spot Where the Coati-
mental Army Was Shattered.

mental Army Was Shattered.
A visitor who walks out the road leading &c
North Wales, In Montgomery county, will see
on the brow Of the hill which commands th!:
road the remains Of the fort says The PhAd
delphia Press. All that Is left in these days
40 years since Washington, forewarned,
directed the building Of the fort that bears
bis name--is a grass covered mound OF earth
forming three sides OF a square, twenty by
twenty two yards, seven feet in height at the
south angle.
/ The sun was beating hotly down on the un.
dulating spread Of rich farming country
yesterday, when the visitor climbed the
grassy hillside. All traces Of the ditch that
once surrounded the fort have been effaced
by the elements and by the tramping of the
feet of the thousands of visitors who have
climbed the hillside to see the place where
Gen. Washington's army, weak and demor-
allied from the defeat Mt Germantown, were
saved from surprise and capture at the then
most critical period in the history of the young
republic.
Near the highest points on the earthworks
there is great cherry tree. The fruit had
rlpened, and hung In crimson clusters as
the visitor sat In its shade yesterday and
looked of over the fertile lowlands. To the
east the top of Camp Hill can be seen, where
the regular army was encalnpcd. A hand.
some residence now crowns its summit
Then there is a stretch to the southwark OF
fields rich in growing crops. Edge Hill and
the big furnace greet the eye as 1t looks still
further south, and like threads of silver the
rails OF the North Pennsylvania railroad stretch
4 nu.1 n Il.
seen. Four miles further of are the spires
OF churches and the turreted roofs of hand
some country residences This is Chestnut
Hin, Philadelpha's most beautiful suburban
town.
To the left is h Barren hill, marked by SIN
gle church spirc. This they call Lafayette
hill now, from the fact that Marquis dc Lafa-
yette and his division OF the army once occu-
pied 1t as lookout station. Here II was that
he was nearly captured by the British. and
had 1t not been for Capt. Story, who lived at
Whiemarsh, Lafayette's career would have
had a sudden termination. Story saw the
British troops marching at night along the
Skippack road leading 10 Barren hill. With.
out hat or coat he started to warn Lafayette.
Another minuteman to whom Story told the
tale carried the warning just In time for the
American troops to be Withdrawn across the
Rising sharply from the edge Of the romatic
Wissahlckon Is Militia hill, where are the ru-
lns of an old llmekin, where the first lime
stone was burned In Pennsylvania two hum
dred years ago. St. Thomas Episcopal church
crowns the top of Church hill. Just before u.s.
whilst down la the valley Is an old farm
house, built in the English style, part stone
and part imported brick. The place has wide
halls and open freplaces and Is owned by ar
English gentleman who has given II the name
loo.
pretty daughter of the tory owner OF this
house had for lover all officer of the CONT
mental army. His suit discouraged he like
knight of the olden time, kidnapped his pret-
ty sweet heart and married her Their de-
scendants yet live in the beautiful valley,
Past here the road leads that once resound-
cd with the rumble Of the Conestoga wagons,
the forerunner OF steam railroads, -and
near by is the "Whitemarsh House." the
noted stopping place on the old stage route
between Bethlehem and Philadelphia. A mile
below is Valley Green known as Morgantowu
in 1884. Near by is the old mill where fifty
years ago the farmers OF the rich country
thereabous brought their wheat to be ground
and after the primitive miller had chalked
the number OF bushels on their hats they
went to Miller Matthews Office TO get their
cash, The place is in ruins now, but the man
sion house near by is In an excellent state Of
preservation. The Amber chemical works is
In SIGHT, where magnesium Is made from the |
auarries close at hand.
In the blue distance, family seen in the |
quiyerlng heat waves of this midsummer day, |
are the hills of Valley Forge. Eighteen |
miles away they arc to be sure, but IL Is easy |
to bridge the distance and the more than cen.
tury of years and see Washngton's army |
plodding through the wintry storms, cold and |
ragged and hear broken.
One can Imagine the blood-s talned tracks !
on the snow and the frozen ground of the |
valley yonder after that memorable march OF |
December IN. The cleaning is coming |
fast and In the quiet Of the hills that Is bro
ken only by the hum Of insects aud the twit-
ter of the birds IN the trees the visitor pauses
for moment in the shadow of great Amer
lean poplar or tulip tree. Here II is, tradition
whispers, that some continental soldier boys
are sleeping, though no shaft OF granite or OF
marble marks their last resting place